Skip to main content

Shop Class – Kinfolk

Kinfolk in Brooklyn is not your typical business. What began as a café there six years ago has now evolved into a multi-level enterprise that also encompasses a retail fashion boutique and a fully operating nightclub. It’s the one address where you can get morning coffee, buy clothes in the afternoon/evening and then head downstairs at night for cocktails and conversation. In addition to its cool 60-piece in-house line that retails from $40 for tees to up to $700 for a jacket, Kinfolk also stocks about 15 hard-to-find other brands and has a thriving webstore. Kinfolk’s co-founder, Jey Perie, recently spoke to me about the usual shop, its assortment and the “typical” Kinfolk guy.

What’s the history of Kinfolk?

Recommended Videos

The brand started in 2008 as a bar and lounge in Tokyo and we ran a custom bike program in Japan that became very popular and we won a Wallpaper design award in 2009. Then we did a collaboration with Nike and when my partner moved to New York we opened a café, then the retail store and then the nightclub. Kinfolk is a multi-disciplinary entity but the real focus is design and to create product and experience for guys and girls like us.

What was your goal when you opened the store?

The goal was to have every type of Kinfolk guy and different kind of friend that I have come here and find something that they like. I wanted to be as inclusive and eclectic as possible but stay within the Kinfolk aesthetic.

How would you describe that aesthetic?

For the in-house line it is a mix of classic American sportswear but with a twist of heritage from Japan or the Pacific Northwest. We try to add that little twist to make it more playful and contemporary. The store’s overall selection is multiple brands with different influence and a different point of view in menswear.

Who wears the Kinfolk brand?

He’s creative, well traveled and someone who wants to stand out but without being loud.

Do the same customers who shop at the store also visit the café and nightclub?

Yes, there is definitely a line of what we call the new internationalists. He’s the kind of guy that you will run into in Tokyo, Paris or London and he’s into the same type of music and aesthetic and design. We are proud to be part of that community that travels around places and experiences the good things in life wherever they go.

What are some of the bestsellers from the in-house line?

The jacket, a collaboration with Brown’s Beach, a Boston-based brand that was bought by the Japanese in the 1970s. It is a mix of wool and cotton and it is very popular. And the down vest that we made in Japan. It’s completely reversible and had a quilted side and a flat side. Also, the workwear-inspired coverall that we design here in the US and produce in Los Angeles.

Do other stores carry the line?

We only wholesale in Japan and Europe. Stores carry it in London, Tokyo and Osaka.

How do you choose what other brands to stock in the store?

My team and I do the buying. There is always evolution of taste in the market. Some brands I let my younger staff pick because they are more appealing to their aesthetic. I travel to Japan four times a year and I know the business quite well. We are always trying to surprise and bring in brands that we are they only one in New York to carry. We like exclusivity.

What’s next for Kinfolk?

We are looking to open another store in Brooklyn. And we will probably open a food and beverage place in Los Angeles later this year.

Christopher Blomquist
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Christopher is a native New Yorker who lives and works (mostly) in Manhattan. A longtime fashion journalist, he served as…
This app makes ‘Clueless’ clothing app a reality (and online shopping a lot easier)
Clueless was the future and it's finally here
Alicia Silverstone as Cher

We all remember the year 1995, right? It was only a few years ago and we don't want to hear anything else. Anyway, one of the highlights of that year was an incredibly funny movie about a spoiled valley girl named Cher (Alicia Silverstone) who navigates high school, love, virginity, and the matchmaking of teachers. It was an unexpectedly endearing movie, but there was something else about that movie that sticks with us clothing-obsessed people: her closet. Not just the clothing in it but the computer program that told her what to wear and how it would look on her. We have wanted it ever since, and here we are, three decades later, and SpreeAI virtual try-on technology has landed, making it possible for us to live the life of a futuristic spoiled valley girl at long last.
New app makes Cher's closet real life

Here is how it works: You go to your favorite online store and find a garment you like. You upload the picture into the app, take one of you, and wham, a virtual rendering of you wearing the shirt. There are a lot of benefits from both sides of the app. The customers get to add one more in-store shopping experience that has been missing with online shopping. The stores get to engage those customers that may not get something for hesitance it won't fit right and the hassle of an online return.

Read more
Shop smart: What you should be paying for a suit
How much you should be paying
A man in a suit looking in a mirror

Whether you're just starting out and are looking for your first suit, or you have been wearing suits for a long time and are looking to overhaul your wardrobe, there is a little apprehension about diving into shopping for a new suit. You could be buying a suit for a special event, or you may wear a suit every day and need to replace some that have gotten older and are on their last leg. Either way, the market has likely changed, or you may not know what to expect in the suit world. So, we're going to jump in and help you figure out what you should be paying. You may be asking yourself a simple question like, "How much are men's suits?" Unfortunately, the answer is far from simple.

But, no fear, we here at The Manual specialize in complicated answers. So here is a breakdown on what you should expect when you head to a shop or go online (we suggest the former if you are new to the process).
Factors that affect price

Read more
These are our favorite online shopping sites for stylish (yet affordable) clothes for men
Keep your budget safe and get cheap clothes online that look like you spent a pretty penny
A man dressed stylishly holding onto a shoulder bag

 

Many of us want to step up our fashion game, but it’s not easy to stay financially stable when updating your wardrobe nowadays. Somehow, shelling out $300 for the best shoes isn’t something we should put high up on our priority list. While we enjoy treating ourselves to a splurge-worthy piece from time to time, we’re firm believers in being practical and realistic about where you spend your money, and that includes finding cheap clothes online that still make us look good.

Read more